Join KindChef Deb to make Turkey Meatball Soup with Spinach and Orzo (based on this recipe from Simply Recipes.) After completing your soup, freeze and label it for donation, then drop off at one of our participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or anyplace that you prefer, when convenient. Finally, report on where you shared your KindSoup and spread the word: Post a picture or two of you and your soups on social media with #DoKindWorks and tag us @DoKindWorks.
Turkey Meatball Soup with Spinach and Orzo
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 6 slices white bread or 3 soft dinner rolls (about 3 inches across), left out overnight
- 3/4 cup whole or reduced-fat milk
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 pounds ground turkey, preferably dark meat or at least 85% lean
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup olive oil
For the Soup
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 6 stalks celery, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 9 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 24 cups chicken stock
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- 24 loosely packed cups baby spinach, with any long stems removed
- 3 cup grated Parmesan, for serving
Instructions (please see Lisa’s tips for making meatballs added below )
- Make the meatball mixture: Shred the bread or roll with your fingers into 1/2-inch pieces. In a bowl, combine the bread or roll, milk, egg, Parmesan, turkey, salt, pepper, and parsley. With clean hands, work the mixture until it is well blended.**
- Shape the meatballs: With wet hands, shape 2 teaspoons of the mixture into a small walnut-sized meatball (1 1/2-inches across). Repeat, making about 90 meatballs total.
- Brown the meatballs (optional): In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. When it is hot, add 1/3 the meatballs and cook for 3 minutes, or until they are browned on the bottom. Turn and cook 2 minutes more, until browned on the other side. Remove from the pan. (The meatballs will not be cooked through.) Cook the remaining meatballs in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the same way.
- Make the soup: In a soup pot, heat the oil. Add the celery, carrots, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 8 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Add the meatballs and orzo. Return the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and cover the pan.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the orzo is tender (cut the meatballs in half to check them; taste the orzo).
- Add the spinach to the soup and cook 2 minutes more, or just until it wilts.
- Taste the soup for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if you like. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Lisa’s Tips for Making Massive Quantities of Mini-Meatballs:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F, with one rack in the upper 3rd and one rack in the lower 3rd of oven.Lightly coat sheet pans with oil. (You can also cover sheet pans with foil and lightly coat that for fast, easy clean up)
Consider these meat free alternatives, for the meatballs:
https://www.themediterraneandish.com/vegan-eggplant-meatballs/
https://sweetsimplevegan.com/eggplant-meatballs/
or this vegetarian (eggplant, mushrooms and walnuts!) recipe:
Health and Safety Information
In order to protect the the quality of our KindSoup program, we ask that volunteers conscientiously observe the following guidelines:
- Start with clean hands and wash again frequently as needed throughout the cooking process.
- Start with clean kitchen surfaces and utensils (antibacterial wipes do a great job).
- Keep longer hair tied back.
- Follow other common sense procedures, such as never returning a tasting spoon to the pot!
Thank you for maintaining a high cleanliness standard for our KindSoup donations!
How to Donate Your KindSoup
Seal containers with a tight lid and freeze. Label each container with: date prepared, your first name and last initial, “Turkey Meatball Soup with Spinach and Orzo” and any relevant food allergy info. When convenient, drop containers of frozen soup off at one of the following participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or a place that you prefer.
- 5171 Manning Place NW (in the Palisades neighborhood in DC). NOTE: Soups dropped here must be vegetarian or Halal only, please.
- Here2Help @ Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 7611 Clarendon Road, Bethesda. (Go down driveway next to brick house just before the church on Clarendon and look for coolers labeled for soup donations). Drop off Sundays, 10 am-12 noon.
- Homes Not Borders 3610 East St., Landover. Drop off daily 10 am-2 pm. NOTE: Soups dropped here must be vegetarian or Halal only, as they will be shared with newly arriving refugee families in the area.
- Rainbow Community Development Center 12120 Tech Road, Silver Spring (this takes you to the rear parking lot and loading dock – there is usually a large RAINBOW truck parked here): Drop-off Monday-Friday 9am-2pm. NOTE: If you go during Rainbow’s food distributions on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 9am-noon, you may see a long line of cars – you can drive past the cars to drop off your KindSoup. If you go at other times and the garage or back door is not open, call or text Anna on her personal cell at 301-852-4184 (if she doesn’t answer, leave a message and she should get back within a few minutes, or try calling the Rainbow Pantry cellphone: 240-639-2293).
- Upcounty Consolidation Hub 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown (supporting 1,000 families with food and other supports). Drop off Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays 8 am-4:30 pm.
- Embry Rucker Shelter 11975 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, 703-437-1975. Leave donations on the table around the back. Drop off anytime!
- NYC Community Fridges located throughout New York City.
- Bread and Roses 58 Newbury St., Lawrence, Mass., 978-681-8768. Drop off Mondays-Thursdays, 10 am-4 pm.
- The Bristol Lodge 27 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass., 781-893-0108. Drop off Mondays-Fridays, 9am-6pm.
- Community Refrigerators located in Los Angeles
See you in the KindSoup kitchen!
Learn more about this KindWorks program
